Planning Commission Meeting Minutes

Cohoctah Township, Livingston County Planning Commission Meeting Minutes

November 1, 2012

The regular meeting of the Cohoctah Township Planning Commission was called to order at 8:05 pm at the Township Hall, 10518 Antcliff Rd, Fowlerville. Members present: Beach, Blainey, Charette, Heida, Wines, Coulter, Twp Brd Rep Buckner; twp ZA T Thomas; twp attorney Kehoe; 9 citizens.

Approval of Agenda – Correction to date at top. Motion by Charette, support by Wines to approve agenda as corrected. Motion carried.

Approval of Minutes – Motion by Buckner, support by Coulter to approve minutes of October regular meeting as presented. Motion carried.

PUBLIC HEARING: Freedom Net Special Use Application and Site Plan Review – Applicant Freedom Net not present at hearing. Public Hearing notice published in Liv Co Press as required. Motion by Charette, support by Blainey to ratify and open Public Hearing. Motion carried. Public comments: [many technical aspects were discussed, and might not be mentioned here] Ryan Miller, Hidden Lake Wireless – explains course of events bringing him to today, including invitation by Twp to locate in Cohoctah, securing Special Use and Site Plan approval for three locations by Twp Plan Comm, installation without permits by Freedom Net within 1.8 miles of his second location and his subsequent filing of complaint with Twp Brd, which lead to Zoning Admin. informing Freedom Net and property owner, Francis Palmerton that Special use and Site Plan review are required. Discussion with Plan Comm of any options or solutions available to him. Ralph McChristy – inquires of R. Miller his training, license, power output, radius. Ryan Miller – indicates training, licensing not required by FCC for up to max power output of 4 watts for this frequency band; radius is 3 to 3.5 miles off an 80 foot tower. Charles McChristy – suggests Miller desires a monopoly. Ralph McChristy – concerning his HAM operation, indicates 4 watts nowhere near enough power to interfere. Francis Palmerton, property owner of app by Freedom Net – has been looking for a provider to locate on his silo for 15 years, offered the site to Hidden Lake Wireless, Ryan Miller declined offer; Palmerton then offered to Freedom Net. They informed him that permits were not required for existing structures, then located service on his silo. Are currently serving 42 customers from the site. Ryan Miller – answering more questions from PC and citizens, states 900 MHz Point to Multipoint wireless networking equipment has up to 6 access points with approx. 60 degree field of view. Three frequency bands are used: 906 MHz, 915 MHz, 924 MHz covering entire band of 902 MHz to 928 MHz, with limited maximum power output of 4 watts. With 6 sectors, is possible to point in specific directions, but, because tower output is radial, would leave dead zones. With Freedom Net only 1.8 miles away, locating second site would interfere with some of the 42 customers; he has not yet secured any customers, having halted his construction due to Freedom Net’s newest location. Tony Trendel – suggested Brd should make Freedom Net take down their equipment. Greg Kalwasinski – limits to number of customers per tower, first tower was full, Freedom Net took some of those. Competitive towers interfere with each other, Twp needs to agree on one supplier. Francis Palmerton – recalls Plan Comm approving app to put one on Stelzer Rd tower after R. Miller’s permits. Jan Rosan – asks if possible to grant specific areas to multiple applicants. Motion by Heida, support by Blainey to close Public Hearing. Motion carried. Motion by Charette, support by Wines to table application for Special Use permit for minimum of 60 days due to incomplete application, lack of technical information, legality of present set up, and absence of applicant at hearing. Motion carried. Motion by Wines, support by Coulter to table Site Plan Review for minimum 60 days due to incomplete application and absence of applicant at hearing. Motion carried. Beach directs Buckner to address at Brd meeting that permits were received by one and not the other; does Zoning Administrator needs to take action now against Freedom Net. PC would like further direction from Twp Brd.

First Call to the Public – Tony Trendel inquires if a moment of silence could be conducted at end of each meeting. [He donated the POW/MIA flag to Twp]

Matters Pertaining to the General Citizenry - none

Unfinished Business – none New Business a) Public Hearings – Hearing was set and published without prior knowledge of Plan Comm. Members don’t recall such procedure. Attorney Kehoe to draw up wording change to section 13.05 for Dec meeting.

Second Call to Public – F Palmerton mentioned ZBA having determined definition of front yard on a lake some time ago, inquires if Plan Comm might address ordinance. Attorney Kehoe requests minutes from the meeting, then will draw up draft for definition change to front yard. J Rosan thought front yard fronting on a lake was a state or federal law.

Adjournment – Motion by Charette, support by Heida to adjourn meeting at 9:08 pm. Motion carried.

Next Meeting Date – December 6, 2012

Respectfully submitted by

______Darlene Blainey, Corresponding Secretary

Prepared by

______Karen Thurner, Recording Secretary